[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 166 (Wednesday, August 26, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 52488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18747]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

42 CFR Part 84

[Docket No. CDC-2020-0036; NIOSH-335]
RIN 0920-AA69


Approval Tests and Standards for Air-Purifying Particulate 
Respirators

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS.

ACTION: Reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On April 14, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS) published an interim final rule to update regulatory requirements 
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to test and 
approve air-purifying particulate respirators for use in the ongoing 
public health emergency. Comments were to be received by August 12, 
2020. This document announces a reopening of the comment period for an 
additional 30 days, to allow stakeholders and other interested parties 
additional time to respond.

DATES: The comment period for the interim final rule published April 
14, 2020, at 85 FR 20598, is reopened. Written comments must be 
received by September 25, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments, identified by docket 
numbers CDC-2020-0036 and NIOSH-335, by either of the following two 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health, NIOSH Docket Office, 1090 Tusculum Avenue, MS C-34, Cincinnati, 
Ohio 45226-1998.
    Instructions: All information received in response to this document 
must include the agency name and docket number [CDC-2020-0036; NIOSH-
335]. All relevant comments received will be posted without change to 
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Palcic, NIOSH National 
Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL), Pittsburgh, PA, 
(412) 386-5247 (this is not a toll-free number). Information requests 
can also be submitted by email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 14, 2020, at 85 FR 20598, HHS 
published an interim final rule adding parallel performance standards 
to existing regulatory requirements in 42 CFR part 84 for powered air-
purifying particulate respirators (PAPRs). These new standards allow 
for the approval of respirators in a new class, PAPR100, that may be 
better suited to the needs of workers in the healthcare and public 
safety sectors. The rule also consolidated the technical standards for 
all types of air-purifying particulate respirators into a revised 
subpart K; standards pertaining to obsolete respirators designed for 
dust, fume, and mist; pesticide; and paint spray were removed from the 
regulation entirely. The comment period for this rule closed on August 
12, 2020.
    Prior to the close of the comment period, HHS received a request to 
extend the comment period. Because NIOSH values input from industry 
partners, HHS is reopening the public comment period for an additional 
30 days. Accordingly, this document announces the reopening of the 
docket for this activity.

    Dated: August 21, 2020.
Alex M. Azar II,
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2020-18747 Filed 8-24-20; 4:15 pm]
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